Monday, April 16, 2012

patience for the passionate

Passion. What a powerful word. It is a word that carries with it so many shades of meaning, so many preconceived ideas, so many expectations. As a character trait, passion has often gotten me into trouble. I might better call it extreme enthusiasm - that's really my version of passion as a character trait. I am a passionate person. Absolutely. And, I really love that about myself.

But.

But, there have been many times when people in my life would tell you this trait was a problem, a flaw. Maybe it is. I don't think so, though. I just think that passionate people are different and that should be OK.

Here's the thing: I care. A lot. A LOT! About everything.

EVERYTHING.

For me, if it is worth thinking about, worth bothering with, worth doing
- then it is worth caring about. Of course it is. And if it's worth caring about, then it's worth expressing yourself about. Of course it is. I don't understand
feeling any other way. I don't really understand the phrase, "It's no big deal." What do you mean? Of course it's a big deal. LIFE is a big
deal.

Now, I do know that not everyone feels this way. And, likely, they have a calmer more peaceful life. I am not calm. NOT calm. I am much more of a roller-coaster than a merry-go-round; a thunderstorm rather than a light rain. But, you know what? I like it that way. I like my excitement, my big laugh, my energy, my passion. I would rather have passion than calm any day; every day.

So what's my point, you ask? Just this. Simply this.

Please be patient with passionate people like me. When you are around an excitable, passionate, verbose person, please try to enjoy them. When some passionate person in your own life gets all worked about something and you just can't figure why it matters so much, please remember that they don't understand why it doesn't matter so much to you. When some passionate person in a meeting with you expresses themselves with more force than you are comfortable with, please remember that their purpose is not to make you uncomfortable. It's more likely that their emotions just didn't come equipped with an off button. When some passionate person around you leaves you feeling like you've just escaped a windtunnel, please try to remember this beautiful thing:

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have a passion for street art, and I fell in love with this garage door in Phoenix.

Thank you for this post. I have worked really hard to become a calmer person because I know I frustrate many people who know me. My book club for one is where I get passionate.I get irratated looks from some and others poke fun at me. I like me. So Yeah for us passionate ones, we make life fun! At least we are not boring.

That's me too! I find that I care sometimes too much. My stepson at the moment, is really throwing away his intelligence and making some bad choices and I'm taking it more personal than he is. He just doesn't seem to see the "big deal". Thanks for letting me know that I am who I am and that it's okay.

I do love this post and often wish I showed more passion and exuberance. In my writing I can do so, but in person I am fairly quiet and calm on the outside. So recently my daughter had a difficult time with my exuberance for the new grandbaby coming along. It was sad that she didn't understand my passion for this baby. She is not use to seeing my passion on the surface. It is time for a new me, a me with PASSION.

A very interesting post, especially because it makes me wonder why other people's passions can sometimes be threatening to us? Next time someone has a passionate outburst around me I will watch my own reaction!

Well said! I am just like you described yourself. I try to be all demure and aloof sometimes but my energy just jumps out in spurts and starts. My family are ALL introverts and I'll tell you...without me in there...it would be mighty BORING. Yay for extroverts!

Interesting post Relyn. I think I err on the quieter side-quietly passionate about the things I am passionate about-but not everything! Too tired for everything! Though actually, I do find myself being a bit ranty when I really care! To interpret your last commenter's comment in a slightly different way-I think you need a mixture of types to make things work. I think I might be a mixture all on my own!